This smoked ham is coated in a homemade spice rub, cooked in a smoker, then brushed with a homemade brown sugar and maple glaze. The ultimate holiday ham recipe that doesn’t require any oven space!

I love a good holiday ham, some of my favorites include pineapple ham and Coca Cola ham. This smoked ham is tender and full of flavor from the sweet and savory spice rub and glaze. It’s become a must-have at all of our family celebrations.

A brown sugar glazed smoked ham on a serving platter surrounded by grapes and fresh herbs.

My biggest problem with cooking for the holidays is that I run out of oven space. You can only fit a few things into the oven at one time, and I find that sometimes things don’t cook properly if the oven is too full. I solve this problem by relying on other cooking methods, like a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or a smoker. This smoked ham cooks outside on the smoker, leaving you plenty of oven space. And it happens to taste absolutely amazing!

How do you smoke a ham?

The first step is to select your ham. I use a pre-cooked, spiral cut ham. Keep in mind that the overwhelming majority of hams have already been smoked, so when you cook those pre-prepared hams on a smoker for your holiday meal, you actually end up with a twice smoked ham. I find that despite being twice smoked, the smoke flavor is not overwhelming at all and is absolutely perfect when paired with a homemade glaze.

A ham crusted in homemade spice rub, ready to go into the smoker.

The first step in the process is to coat your ham in a spice rub. I use my homemade BBQ rub which has the perfect amount of sweet and savory seasonings. You can rub your ham right before smoking it, or season it the night before to let the spices fully permeate the meat.

What temperature do you smoke a ham?

I smoke my ham at a temperature of 250 degrees F. You can also run your smoker at a higher or lower temperature, just be aware that the cook time will change accordingly.

How long does it take to smoke a ham?

It typically takes about 20 minutes per pound to smoke a pre-cooked ham. The internal temperature of the thickest part of the ham should register 140 degrees F when it’s completely warmed through. I find it works best to use a remote thermometer so that I can leave the probe in the ham inside the smoker, yet still monitor the temperature of the ham from inside the house.

How much ham per person?

For a bone in ham, you’ll want to estimate about 3/4 pound per person that you’re planning to serve.

Smoked ham coated in a homemade BBQ rub.

After the ham smokes for about an hour, you’ll want to start basting it every 30-45 minutes with apple cider. This keeps the ham from drying out. If you feel like your ham is looking a little dry, you can always cover it with foil inside the smoker after that initial hour.

Tips for smoked ham

I really feel like it’s worth it to take a few minutes to make a homemade spice rub. If you’re short on time, store bought will work fine too.
I use a disposable aluminum pan to smoke my ham to keep the mess to a minimum.
Be sure to place the cut side of the ham face down in the pan as shown in the photos.
Once the ham temperature registers around 135 degrees F, start preparing your glaze.
Garnish your ham with an assortment of herbs and fruit such as grapes for a beautiful presentation.

A smoked ham being coated in brown sugar glaze.

What is the best wood for smoking ham?

I use apple wood chips for this recipe, it compliments the apple flavor in the glaze and doesn’t impart an overly smoky flavor. Other good choices would be hickory or cherry wood.

The final step in this recipe is to make the glaze, which is a mixture of butter, brown sugar, maple syrup and apple cider. Brush it all over the ham and dinner is ready!

Sliced smoked ham on a serving platter, garnished with grapes and fresh herbs.

What do you serve with smoked ham?

I like to serve a variety of side dishes with my ham, some of my favorites include

Brown sugar smoked ham is the ultimate main course for a special occasion. It’s so incredibly flavorful and is very unique compared to your typical ham offerings!

5 from 28 votes

Smoked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze

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AuthorSara Welch

This smoked ham is coated in a homemade spice rub, cooked in a smoker, then brushed with a homemade brown sugar and maple glaze. The ultimate holiday ham recipe that doesn't require any oven space!

Time

Prep Time10

Cook Time4

Total Time4 10

Course Main

Cuisine American

Serves

Ingredients

▢ 7 lbs bone in ham you can go larger or smaller, just adjust the cook time accordingly
▢ 1/3 cup BBQ rub
▢ 1/2 cup butter
▢ 1/2 cup brown sugar
▢ 1/4 cup maple syrup
▢ 2 1/4 cups apple cider divided use
▢ fresh herbs and fruit for garnish
▢ cooking spray

Instructions

Preheat a smoker to 250 degrees F. Load the smoker with cherry wood chips.
Coat a disposable aluminum pan with cooking spray. Place the ham cut side down in the pan.
Sprinkle the spice rub all over the exterior of the ham.
Place the pan in the smoker and cook for one hour.
Continue to cook the ham for another 2-3 hours, basting every 30-45 minutes with the 2 cups of apple cider.
The ham is done when a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the ham reads 140 degrees F.
While the ham is smoking, make the glaze.
Place the butter, brown sugar, maple syrup and remaining 1/4 cup of apple cider in a pan over medium heat.
Bring the pan to a simmer. Cook for 6-8 minutes or until glaze has just thickened.
Brush the glaze all over the ham. Transfer the ham to a platter. Garnish the ham with herbs and fruit if desired, then serve.